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North Clack Timber Sale

"North Clack" is in a very preliminary stage of planning, and logging unit boundaries are being identified within its project area for incorporation in this "Integrated Resource Project." So far the Forest Service has revealed their focus on areas to reintroduce "regeneration harvest" (with 15% retention of standing trees). This is especially troubling given that the agency appears to be targeting stands they describe as "fire originated," meaning they grew back naturally after fires that occured 80-115 years ago, creating a forest structure of multiple ages of conifers including large, mature trees. On a regional and global level, protecting these types of forests is critical for keeping carbon out of the atmosphere. However, Mt. Hood's grossly outdated Land and Resource Management Plan still prioritizes the majority of this area as "Timber Emphasis."

Looking back, this project area has a history of logging and wildfire. The area was originally privately owned, and logging began well over a century ago using a railroad and steam donkey system. After several logging and railroad-related fires, much of the burned area was salvage logged, and was either replanted or re-seeded naturally. Some of this land was transferred to the Forest Service as part of a settlement for fire damages. North Clack also includes some areas more recently burned in 2014 in the 36 Pit Fire.

North Clack encompasses the La Dee Flats OHV riding area, which has a history and reputation of unauthorized motorized trail building. Bark believes that opening up the forest through logging (and building new roads to do so) consistently brings about more of this type of activity, and Bark is pushing the Forest Service to consider this additional impact.

There are, however, several opportunities to enhance wildlife habitat in this area, including beavers, which are indicators of a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Opportunities for decommissioning ecologically damaging roads, and reintroducing fire as a management tool are other actions that Bark will be encouraging the agency to prioritize as they move forward with this project.